Whereas HIV/AIDS is a devastating epidemic that continues
to spread in communities throughout the United States;
Whereas approximately 1,700,000 people in the United
States have been infected by HIV/AIDS since the first cases were reported 29
years ago;
Whereas there are approximately 1,100,000 people living
with HIV/AIDS in the United States today;
Whereas there are approximately 56,000 new HIV infections
and more than 14,000 new AIDS-related deaths every year in the United
States;
Whereas every 91/2 minutes another
person in the United States becomes infected with HIV;
Whereas President Barack Obama released the National
HIV/AIDS Strategy on July 13, 2010, in order to refocus attention on the
domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic;
Whereas the National HIV/AIDS Strategy focuses on three
major goals, including reducing the number of new HIV infections, increasing
access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV and
AIDS, and reducing HIV-related health disparities;
Whereas HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among women, young
people, and racial minorities, all of which are demographic groups that were
not considered to be at significant risk of HIV infection during the early
years of the epidemic;
Whereas women account for 27 percent of new AIDS cases in
the United States, and teen girls account for 39 percent of new AIDS cases
among teenagers;
Whereas African-Americans account for about half of new
AIDS cases, although only 12 percent of the population as a whole is
Black;
Whereas Hispanic-Americans account for 19 percent of new
AIDS cases, although only 15 percent of the population as a whole is
Hispanic;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for
1 percent of new AIDS cases, and Native Americans and Alaskan Natives account
for up to 1 percent of new AIDS cases;
Whereas African-American women account for 65 percent of
new AIDS cases among women;
Whereas 71 percent of new AIDS cases are people of
color;
Whereas about 21 percent of the people living with
HIV/AIDS in the United States do not know they are infected;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
guidelines for HIV screening in healthcare settings recommend routine HIV
testing for all patients between the ages of 13 and 64, regardless of risk
factors;
Whereas individuals are more likely to act responsibly and
protect themselves and other persons in the community when they know their HIV
status;
Whereas encouraging people to be tested for HIV is a
critical element in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts;
Whereas individuals who are HIV-positive must learn their
status in order to obtain counseling on managing their health, access
appropriate medical and social services, begin life-prolonging treatment, and
take actions to avoid spreading the virus to others;
Whereas physicians, physician's assistants, nurses,
dentists, and other clinicians play a vital role in providing access to
HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services, and in
encouraging patients to get tested for HIV;
Whereas Howard University College of Medicine has declared
Wednesday, July 21, 2010, to be the third annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS
Testing and Awareness Day in an effort to encourage clinicians nationwide to
become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and
referral services;
Whereas a diverse group of organizations representing
communities affected by HIV/AIDS have partnered with Howard University College
of Medicine to promote the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS
Testing and Awareness Day;
Whereas the third annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS
Testing and Awareness Day will give all physicians, physician assistants,
nurses, dentists, and other clinicians an opportunity to get personally
involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS by taking an HIV test, personally
demonstrating the importance as well as the ease of HIV testing;
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and
Awareness Day will be a call to action to clinicians nationwide to lead the way
in dispelling the myths and stigma associated with HIV testing and become vocal
advocates for patients and communities; and
Whereas the National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and
Awareness Day will encourage clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS
awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services: Now, therefore, be
it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)supports the goals and ideals of the third
annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day;
(2)encourages primary
care physicians and other clinicians nationwide to become actively involved in
HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services;
(3)encourages the
media to observe the third annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and
Awareness Day by educating clinicians about the important role they play in
providing access to HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral
services and by educating clinicians and the public about the benefits of HIV
testing; and
(4)encourages
individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention
and treatment of HIV/AIDS.